Threats on pensions not good for recruiting teachers

Eric Halpern’s op-ed piece, “Time to Reform Teacher Pensions,” (The News-Times, May 10) describes the problem, but recommends a reform which will make the problem worse.

Yes, the bulk of the problem is generations of no funding or underfunding, politicians making promises, leaving it to their successors to honor. But moving from a defined benefit to a defined contribution (401-K) plan results in less contributions to the pension fund, exploding the pension shortfall even more.

The most effective education reform is a great teacher in the classroom. But many of the best and the brightest are no longer heading to a career in teaching — threats of layoffs and questions about pension promises are not helpful.

Honoring the promises we made to teachers years ago by continuing to fund the pension obligations, improving the performance of the fund, along with long-term reforms which guarantee the solvency of the funds, will remind teachers, as well as parents and their students, that education is job one in our state.